NOVADog Blog

Product: Dog Lover’s Daily Companion - 365 Days of Tips, Tricks, and Techniques for Living a Rich Life with Your Dog

Tester: Greg Bender and his clan (The Barks Brothers)

Rating: Nine Paws out of Ten

This is one pet book that is definitely worth the price to any dog owner. The authors have leashed together a wide variety of fun, interesting, and occasionally offbeat topics. Would you like to learn how to make some bar soap for your dog? Read up on your dog’s horoscope? Learn how to clean your dog’s collars and leashes properly? How about learning to manage your dog’s diabetes? What should be in a simple or advanced canine First Aid kit? All those topics are covered, as well as many others. The text is clear, lively and informal, and the photography is first rate.

The book is arranged on a Monday through Friday calendar, with a separate weekend section reserved specifically for “Bonding and Relationship Building” with your dog. Each day of the week is devoted to a general topic or set of topics, such as “Basics,” or “Health, Grooming and First Aid.” Of course, the reader does not necessarily have to follow the daily scheme. Browsing is encouraged and rewards the reader with occasional surprises. (Who knew there was such a thing as Feng Shui for dogs?)

There are projects for those handy with a needle, such as making some fabric jingle toys for your dog. That alone might save the reader more than the cover price in short order. Other projects are provided for those familiar with using power and hand tools, such as the plans provided for building a freestanding yard shade canopy or a fair-weather doghouse. Many of the projects are child-friendly and would be useful as rainy day activities with a little advance planning on Mom and Dad’s part.

GREG'S DOGS (COLLECTIVELY CALLED THE BARKS BROTHERS) AWAIT THEIR FROZEN TREAT THAT HE MADE FROM A PROJECT IN THE BOOK.

There are tips on how to train your dog to “sit pretty” for a photograph (a major problem with my four Shelties, who act more like mischievous second graders when lined up for a photo session), flip for a treat, balance a treat on his nose and others, all using positive reinforcement techniques.

The only “bone” of contention I have with the authors is that they offer advice for leaving your dog unattended in a car. Given how often the media covers the disastrous consequences of this practice, I strongly discourage it. For this, I deduct a “Paw.” I must give the authors credit for their support of shelters and rescue organizations in their book, especially for including a list of all the different ways anyone can help. For those outside of the shelter and rescue world, many of the ways to help out are not intuitive.

This book is a steal at the price, ($19.99) and provides many ideas and projects to amuse both dogs and their owners. Congratulations to the authors for assembling a unique book that every dog owner should have on the shelf. Find the book at Amazon.com.

Gregg Bender is a member of Northern Virginia Sheltie Rescue and Northern Chesepeake Sheltie Rescue. He is owned by four rescued Shelties, collectively known as the “Barks Brothers,” mostly because he and his wife Nancy are major foster flunkies. He spends much of his time trying not to be herded and trying to convince the Barks Brothers not to herd their four cats. He is a former supervisor and technical writer from the airline industry, who now works for CACI International as an IT technical writer at Ft. Detrick, MD.